Obituaries - 04/09/2013

She was born December 4, 1920, a daughter of the late Frank M. and Edith Johnson Casler. A lifelong Herkimer resident, she graduated from Herkimer High School Class of 1939. She then attended the Excelsior School of Business in Utica.

Mary was employed for several years with Gloo and Gloo Insurance Company before becoming secretary to the principal at Herkimer High School, retiring from that position in 1970.

Her marriage to Frederick W. Woodrick took place on May 20, 1943, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Church in Florence, Ariz., and lasted 54 years until his death on August 9, 1997.

She was a member of St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Edward Risley of Hudson, Fla. and Janet and Robert Allison of Mohawk; five grandchildren, Suzanne Merritt, Jennifer Risley, Stacey Reyes, Sara Allison and Donald Allison; eight great-grandchildren, Matthew and Emma Merritt, Ioni, Jerrod, Marciano, Roberto and Natalia Reyes and Hannah Allison; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Besides her parents and husband Fred she was predeceased by her two sisters, Lillian Cristman on November 15, 2006 and Helen Smith on December 29, 2012.

Funeral from Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer on Monday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer, at 10 a.m. The Very Reverend Mark Cunningham, Pastor officiated. Interment followed in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Calling hours in the funeral home were Sunday, April 7, from 2 until 5 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Claxton Manor Activities, c/o Folts Homes, 104 North Washington Street, Herkimer, NY 13350.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff and many friends that Mary made at Claxton Manor for the past eight years, as well as the staff on the first floor of Folts Homes for all the compassion shown to her and the family during her recent stay.